Category Archives: Reviews

(review) NAJVERIBEST-O jalu je riječ(re-issue remastered)

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Najveribest were already featured on the pages of this zine in the series about the bands from my hometown, who described their history in their own words. What can I say? This album was and still is one of my personal favorite records from this area, since it came out on cassette 24 years ago on now defunct Barbarian records. I also remember Najveribest having so energetic shows that I loved so much, as a fan in front of the stage and sharing the stage with my then band Corewar. They were really ahead of their time with their hardcore/crossover equally mixing metal and punk roots in their awesome songs with lyrics in Croatian and English, some about fun and bullshit, some really personally themed stuff and anti-war which was so important back in the nineties in this country. Songs like Bar nešto, Problematika, Mučenje i glupost still are my favorites but also Go!, Fuckin War or Brother Hates Brother too. Now, 24 years later, thanks to Bero from Ill in the Head Records who re-released this gem and Ivan from Kut Sobe who did remastering, also Inspirited Media who did graphic solutions and design, this gem can shine again in all its glory stronger than ever. Go get this one if you are into hardcore crossover with balls, energy and attitude.

10/10

https://najveribest.bandcamp.com/

(fanzine)Beta Vulgaris #12 is one of the best fanzines in Croatia.

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Although this is a webzine, I used to do lots of fanzines back in the nineties and early 2000s from No Faith, Domination of Darkness…It is so nice to see that there are still physical copies of fanzines here in Croatian scene, which is my homeland scene. This zine is coming from south of Croatia, namely beautiful Split. What first comes to mind is that the zine is pretty big, many pages, with lots of stuff to read. I was instantly reminded of excellent zine from Croatia called In medias res that was really something back in the days. This zine is in Croatian language, so if you don˙t understand, too bad, maybe you can find someone who can translate a bit to you or something. There are columns, interview with Parole 80, features about anarchosindicalism, antifascism from Split area, some more feature, poetry, feature on Brigada Flores Magon and much, much more. As you can see, this is not zine focused only on music, but also on political side of things in punk, being nice because not many zines do that nowadays. It is lots of reading material for little money or exchange so write: bvulgaris@riseup.net

 

(review) Soul Mate-Learning e.p.

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Another great band that comes from mighty Southamerican scene, from Santos, Brasil. Soul Mate are from there and they play a mixture of melodic punkrock and hardcore. This e.p. contains 6 songs, one of them being kind of intro to the rest of the material. The music changes from fast skatepunk, to more calmer and emotional atmospheric moments like in slower and more pop oriented Instead Of or fast and superb instrumental New Birth. The vocals are good, the musicianship is tight with some progressive almost metalic technical elements in the songs. The singer reminds me at some moments of Chris from Propagandhi and that is a good thing, not trying to copy but having that similar colour of voice. This is a complex and a bit different e.p. than your typical skatepunk, so enjoy it as I did.

7.5/10